Nervous System

Khaleel Alyahya, PhD, MEd

King Saud University
School of Medicine
@khaleelya
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 OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lecture, students should be able to:
 List the subdivisions of the nervous system.
 Define the terms: grey matter, white matter, nucleus, ganglion, tract and
nerve.
 Define neurons and neuroglia.
 List the major parts of the brain.
 Identify the external and internal features of spinal cord.
 Enumerate the cranial nerves.
 Describe the parts and distribution of the spinal nerve.
 Define the term dermatome.
 List the structures protecting the central nervous system.
 FUNCTIONS

The nervous system has 3 functions:

 Collection of Sensory Input
 Identifies changes occurring
inside and outside the body by
using sensory receptors. These
changes are called stimuli
 Integration
 Processes, analyses & interprets
these changes and makes
decisions
 Motor Output
 It then effects a response by
activating muscles or glands
(effectors) via motor output
 ORGANIZATION

STRUCTURAL
 Central Nervous System (CNS)
 Brain & Spinal Cord

 Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

 Nerves & Ganglia
 ORGANIZATION

FUNCTIONAL
 Sensory Division (Afferent)
 Motor Division (Efferent)
 Autonomic
 Somatic
 NERVOUS TISSUE
Nervous tissue is organized as:
Grey matter: which contains the White matter: which contains
cell bodies & the processes of the processes of the neurons (no
the neurons, the neuroglia and cell bodies), the neuroglia and
the blood vessels. the blood vessels.
 Ganglion Nucleus
A group of neurons A group of neurons
outside the CNS within the CNS

Nerve Tract
A group of nerve fibers A group of nerve fibers
(axons) outside the CNS (axons) within the CNS
 NEURONS

 It is the basic structural (anatomical),

functional and embryological unit of the
nervous system.
 The human nervous system is estimated
to contain about 1010.
 The functions of the neuron is to receive
incoming information from sensory
receptors or from other neurons and to
transmit information to other neurons or
effector organs.

Prof. Saeed Makarem

 NEURONS

 Information is passed between neurons

at specialized regions called synapses
 There is a single cell body from which a
variable number of branching
processes emerge.
 Most of these processes are receptive
in function and are known as
dendrites.
 One of the processes leaving the cell
body is called the axon which carries
information away from the cell body.
 At the end of the axon, specializations
called terminal buttons occur.
 Here information is transferred to the
dendrites of other neurons.

Prof. Saeed Makarem

 NEURONS

 Transmission of information between

neurons almost always occurs by chemical
rather than electrical means.
 Action potential causes release of specific
chemical that are stored in synaptic vesicles
in the presynaptic ending.
 These chemicals are known as
neurotransmitters and diffuse across the
narrow gap between pre- and postsynaptic
membranes to bind to receptors on the
postsynaptic cell.

Prof. Saeed Makarem

 NEUROGLIA
 Neuroglia, or glia cells constitute the other major cellular component
of the nervous system.
 It is a specialized connective tissue for the nervous system.
 Unlike neurones, neuroglia do not have a direct role in information
processing but they are essential for the normal functioning of nerve
cells.

Prof. Saeed Makarem

 NEUROGLIA
Three main types of neuroglial cell are recognized:
 Oligodendrocytes (oligodendroglia) they form the myelin sheath that
surrounds many neuronal axons, which increase the rate of conduction.
 Microglia have a phagocytic role in response to nervous system
damage.
 Astrocytes provide biochemical support for endothelial cells that form
the blood–brain barrier

Prof. Saeed Makarem

 THE BRAIN
 Large mass of nervous tissue located in the cranial cavity.
 Has four major regions.
Cerebrum
(Cerebral hemispheres)

Diencephalon
Thalamus,
Hypothalamus,
Subthalamus &
Epithalamus

Cerebellum

Brainstem: Midbrain, Pons & Medulla oblongata

 CEREBRUM

 The largest part of the brain, and has

two hemispheres.
 The cerebral hemispheres are
connected by a thick bundle of nerve
fibers called corpus callosum.
 The surface shows ridges of tissue,
called gyri, separated by grooves
called sulci.
 Divided into 4 lobes by deeper
grooves.
 Tissue of Cerebral Hemispheres

 The outermost layer is called gray matter or cortex.

 Deeper is located the white matter, composed of fiber tracts (bundles of nerve
fibers)
 Carrying impulses to and from the cortex.
 Located deep within the white matter are masses of grey matter called the
basal nuclei .
 They help the motor cortex in the regulation of voluntary motor activities
 CEREBLLUM

 The cerebellum has 2 hemispheres and

a convoluted surface.
 It has an outer cortex made from gray
matter and an inner region of white
matter.
 It provides precise coordination for
body movements and helps maintain
equilibrium.
 DIENCEPHALON

 Consists of four parts;

 Thalamus
 Hypothalamus
 Subthalamus
 Epithalamus
 Lies between the cerebrum and the
brain stem.
 Regulates visceral activities and
the autonomic nervous system.
 BRAIN STEM

 Consists of three parts;

 Midbrain
 Pons
 Medulla Oblongata
 Produces the rigidly programmed,
autonomic behaviors necessary.
 Provides the pathway for fibers tracts
running between higher and lower
neuronal centers.
 SPINAL CORD
 It is a two-way conduction pathway to
the brain & a major reflex center
 42-45 cm long, cylindrical in shape, lies
within the vertebral canal.
 Extends from foramen magnum to L2
vertebra
 Continuous above with medulla
oblongata
 Caudal tapering end is called conus
medullaris
 Has 2 enlargements: cervical and
lumbosacral
 Gives rise to 31 pairs of spinal nerves
 Group of spinal nerves at the end of the
spinal cord is called cauda equina
 CROSS SECTION OF SPINAL CORD
 The spinal cord is incompletely divided
into two equal parts, anteriorly by a
short, shallow median fissure and
posteriorly by a narrow septum, the
posterior median septum.

 Composed of grey matter in the

centre surrounded by white matter.

 The arrangement of grey matter

resembles the shape of the letter H,
having two posterior, two anterior and
two lateral horns/columns.
 Which statement(s) of the following is NOT Wrong?
1. Nucleus is a group of neurons within the PNS
2. In the Brain, grey matter located in the centre and surrounded by white
matter.
3. Oligodendrocytes they form the myelin sheath that surrounds many neuronal
axons, which increase the rate of conduction.
4. Diencephalon provides the pathway for fibers tracts running between higher
and lower neuronal centers.
5. Information is passed between neurons at specialized regions called synapses
6. Cerebrum provides precise coordination for body movements and helps
maintain equilibrium.
 PEREPHERAL NERVES
 May be sensory, may be motor or could be mixed
 Two types:

 Cranial: 12 pairs, attached  Spinal: 31 pairs, attached to

to brain, named, and spinal cord named and
numbered from1-12 numbered according to the
region of the spinal cord
 CRANIAL NERVES
12 pairs
 4 pairs are mixed
 trigeminal n. (5th)
 facial n. (7th)
 glossopharyngeal n. (9th)
 vagus n. (10th)
 5 pairs are motor
 occulomotor n. (3rd)
 trochlear n. (4th)
 abducent n. (6th)
 accessory n. (11th)
 hypoglossal n. (12th)
 3 pairs are sensory
 olfactory n. (1st)
 optic n. (2nd)
 vestibulocochlear n. (8th)
 SPINAL NERVES & NERVE PLEXUES

 31 pairs
 Each spinal nerve is attached
by two roots:
 Dorsal (sensory)
 Ventral (motor)
 Dorsal root bears a
sensory ganglion
 Each spinal nerve exits from
the intervertebral foramen and
divides into a dorsal and
ventral ramus
 The rami contain both sensory
and motor fibers
 SPINAL NERVES & NERVE PLEXUES

 The dorsal rami are distributed

individually.
 Supply the skin and muscles of
the back
 the ventral rami form plexuses
(except in thoracic region where
they form the intercostal nerves)
 Supply the anterior part of the
body
 DERMATOME

 Dermatome is a
segment of skin
supplied by one
spinal nerve.
 PROTECTION OF CNS
THE CNS IS PROTECTED BY:
 Skull and the vertebral column (bone)
 Meninges (membranes): 3 layers
 dura mater (outermost)
 arachnoid mater (middle
 pia mater (innermost)
 Cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoid space
 CEREBRAL FLUID
CSF
CSF isis constantly
constantly
produced
produced by by the
the
choroid
choroid plexuses
plexuses
inside
inside the
the
ventricles
ventricles of
of
brain.
brain.

Most of the CSF drains from

the ventricles into the
subarachoid space around
the brain and spinal cord. A
little amount flows down in CSF is constantly drained
the central canal of the into the dural sinuses
spinal cord. through the arachnoid villi.
QUESTION?